We have owned two Lance Campers and have been very satisfied with both. We would probably still own the first one, but added two children and needed the space provided by the slide. The only gripe I have with the 855S, is the crazy placement of the batteries. The compartment is under the step leading up to the cabover and can house two batteries - which ours does. Getting into the battery box can be a test of patience and agility, whether for maintenance or replacement. I easily solved the maintenace issue by adding the EZ-Fill watering system. Fortunately, our batteries lasted over 4-years and were replaced last month.
When purchasing the 855S, we gave serious consideration to the AF811. However, there were a few things that steered us away. First, AF makes no apologies about the weight of their campers and even takes an odd approach of masking the fact of their base weight by having "mandatory options." Deceptive tactics IMHO.
Second, the pass-thru window is very small and we get a lot of use from our window. The AF window is useless. We use our pass-thru on every single trip.
Third, they didn't offer a child restraint system for the bunk bed. Safety hazard! Lance offers child restraint. Oh, I also believe Lance has a larger dinette, which makes a difference in the foot area and when someone sleeps on the dinette bed or bunk.
Fourth, AF suggests using a support system under the camper when using off the truck. Doesn't seem convenient to carry such a system while on the road. Lance is designed to be used on or off the truck - which we do.
Again, we gave the 811 serious consideration and I'm sure we would be happy owners had we made that choice. I believe AF builds an excellent product and so does Lance, so either way, you'll have a nice rig that should serve you well.
Happy Shopping!
